Medical bandaging article and packaging system

A medical bandaging article comprising:

• a soft, resilient open cell foam padding layer:
• a soft, flexible fabric layer:
• a flexible substrate smaller than said foam layer and said fabric layer, said substrate disposed between said foam layer and said fabric layer and impregnated or coated with a soft curable resin which hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid structure;
• and
• a heat fusing web interposed between said fabric layer and said foam layer, said web sized to extend around the periphery of and overlay said substrate to provide a barrier between said fabric layer and said substrate to prevent seepage of the resin through said fabric layer;
• wherein upon application of heat and pressure sufficient to activate said web said foam layer and said fabric layer are fused together encasing said substrate to maintain all components of said article in proper position.

A medical bandaging article comprising:

• a soft, resilient open cell foam padding layer:
• a soft, flexible fabric layer:
• a flexible substrate smaller than said foam layer and said fabric layer, said substrate disposed between said foam layer and said fabric layer and impregnated or coated with a soft curable resin which hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid structure:
• first heat fusing web interposed between said fabric layer and said substrate providing a barrier to prevent seepage of the resin through said fabric layer:
• a second heat fusing web interposed between said foam layer and said substrate wherein said second fusing web is sized to extend around and overlay said substrate to provide a barrier between said foam layer and said substrate to prevent seepage of the resin through said foam layer;
• and
• wherein upon application of heat and pressure sufficient to activate said first and second webs said foam layer and said fabric layer are fused together encasing said substrate to maintain all components of said article in proper position.

A moisture-impervious packaging system for retaining a plurality of individually sealed medical bandaging articles in a moisture-free condition until use, each of said medical bandaging articles having a soft, resilient open cell foam padding layer, a soft, flexible, water permeable fabric layer, a flexible substrate smaller than said foam layer and said fabric layer, said substrate disposed between said foam layer and said fabric layer and impregnated or coated with a soft curable resin which hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure, and a heat fusing web interposed between said fabric layer and said foam layer along at least one side of said substrate providing a resin seepage barrier, wherein upon application of heat and ;pressure sufficient to activate said web, said foam layer and said fabric layer are fused together on at least said one side of said substrate encasing said substrate to maintain all components of said article in proper position, said packaging system comprising:

• a plurality of medical bandaging articles contained within individually sealed moisture-impervious pouches defining sealed areas therebetween, said pouches being arranged serially in a continuous roll;
• and
• a perforated portion formed in each of said sealed areas, each said portion comprising linear perforations extending laterally across said sealed area between said pouches for enabling separation of said pouches while maintaining the integrity of their seals, and notches formed at opposite lateral sides of said sealed area for facilitating separation.

A combination of a plurality of medical bandaging articles and a packaging system for containing individual ones of said articles in a moisture-free condition, said combination comprising:

• a plurality medical bandaging articles each having a soft, resilient open cell foam padding layer, a soft, flexible, water permeable fabric layer, a flexible substrate smaller than said foam layer and said fabric layer, said substrate disposed between said foam layer and said fabric layer and impregnated or coated with a soft curable resin which hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure, and a heat fusing web interposed between said fabric layer and said foam layer along at least one side of said substrate providing a resin seepage barrier, wherein upon application of heat and pressure sufficient to activate said, said foam layer and said fabric layer are fused together on at least said one side of said substrate encasing said substrate to maintain all components of said article in proper position;
• and
• a packaging system having a plurality of medical bandaging articles contained within individually sealed moisture-impervious pouches defining sealed areas therebetween, said pouches being arranged serially in a continuous roll, and a perforated portion formed in each of said sealed areas, each said portion comprising linear perforations extending laterally across said sealed area between said pouches for enabling separation of said pouches while maintaining the integrity of their seals, and notches formed at opposite lateral sides of said sealed area for facilitating separation.